Cosson’s still running despite fire

Clay Cosson works on an engine at Cosson’s Rent-All and Sandblasting Inc. in Springfield on Tuesday.

Andrew Wardlow / The News Herald

By JACQUELINE BOSTICK / The News Herald

Published: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 07:47 PM.

SPRINGFIELD — Though the 4,800-square-foot facility in which Clay Cosson used to do repairs was leveled in a fire February, Cosson’s Rent-All and Sandblasting Inc. is back operating and trudging along.

As Cosson struggles to get the business back up, repairs are done outside, in a one-acre lot where the repair shop once stood. Despite the setback, customers continue to look to the 50-year-old family business for machine repair needs.

“I’ve come to this business for years,” Martha Somnitz, a customer since the 1970s, said Tuesday while dropping off her lawn mower for repair. “You won’t find any better folk. … They’ve got to rebuild. We don’t know what we’ll do without them.”

Cosson’s, located at 3701 U.S. Business 98 in Springfield, was uninsured when the fire burned down the wooden building. According to the State Fire Marshal’s office, fire damages ranged from $250,000 to $300,000.

“Everything happens for a reason; hopefully it’ll get better,” Cosson said, noting the business has lost about half its customers. “We need to let people know that we’re back in business.”

Cosson said his repair shop “is home” and his customers are family.

“I grew up doing this. I’ve been here since I was 3 days old,” he said. “And, when you’ve been working on someone’s stuff for 30 or 40 years, they’re kind of family.”

SPRINGFIELD — Though the 4,800-square-foot facility in which Clay Cosson used to do repairs was leveled in a fire February, Cosson’s Rent-All and Sandblasting Inc. is back operating and trudging along.

As Cosson struggles to get the business back up, repairs are done outside, in a one-acre lot where the repair shop once stood. Despite the setback, customers continue to look to the 50-year-old family business for machine repair needs.

“I’ve come to this business for years,” Martha Somnitz, a customer since the 1970s, said Tuesday while dropping off her lawn mower for repair. “You won’t find any better folk. … They’ve got to rebuild. We don’t know what we’ll do without them.”

Cosson’s, located at 3701 U.S. Business 98 in Springfield, was uninsured when the fire burned down the wooden building. According to the State Fire Marshal’s office, fire damages ranged from $250,000 to $300,000.

“Everything happens for a reason; hopefully it’ll get better,” Cosson said, noting the business has lost about half its customers. “We need to let people know that we’re back in business.”

Cosson said his repair shop “is home” and his customers are family.

“I grew up doing this. I’ve been here since I was 3 days old,” he said. “And, when you’ve been working on someone’s stuff for 30 or 40 years, they’re kind of family.”

A building currently being renovated to become an oyster bar sits next to Cosson’s one-acre lot. The building, which also belongs to Cosson, temporarily serves as his office.

“I have held my hand out. … I’ve never asked for help from anybody, but I had to ask for help because we couldn’t get started again without help,” said Ethel Cosson, Clay Cosson’s mother and the original co-owner and co-founder of the repair shop. “I just felt like I couldn’t give up on account of my son. This has been his whole life, too.”

Since the Feb. 27 fire, the 85-year-old has spent every day at the bar-turned-office, helping out where she can, she added.

A customer for 20 years, George Curry walked in the office and asked Ethel Cosson about putting tires on a set of rims for a riding lawn mower.

“When I was a kid, they’d been in business for years,” Curry said. “They’re good people.”

He added he’ll continue to go to the shop “as long as they’re open.”

However, due to the fire, some services have been suspended, specifically services that require welding and machining, Cosson said. As a result, he said, “It’s slow, but we’re slowly building it back up.”

In the same way he said insurance was too expensive for the former wooden facility, Cosson said construction of a new red-iron steel building is too pricey, but he may build it himself and will have insurance on it, he added.

Immediately after the fire, Joshua Waters, manager at Trading Post Pawn Shop, set up an account to help raise money for rebuilding Cosson’s. The account number is 0181242778 at Regions Bank. Thus far, community members have given about $3,000 and volunteered regularly since the fire, Cosson said. Local businesses have donated tools and fencing, as well.

Sawyer Barrier, 19, a volunteer at Cosson’s, is adamant about raising money to get the business back running fully. He is hosting a raffle at Cosson’s on June 1. Prizes include golf passes, gift certificates and meal coupons.

“When (the fire) happened, it kind of hit home. I said, ‘You know what; I got to help out’ … and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Barrier said.

Tickets can be purchased at the Rock-Tenn Paper Mill at 501 S. East Ave., Club Sun at 224 S Tyndall Parkway, and Boyett and Casey Hardware, 2134 E. Third St.